Research conducted by Jonathan Rottenberg, published in the Journal of Research, revealed that approximately 10% of 3,000 participants experienced negative emotions after crying.
The study found that the outcome depended on the underlying reason for crying.
Individuals facing stressful situations but receiving emotional support reported feeling better after crying, whereas those struggling with anxiety, depression, or feelings of isolation and loneliness did not experience emotional relief.
While crying can soothe the body, help manage stress, and reduce the risk of heart disease, it may also result in certain health problems such as:
1. Tension Headaches
These are the most common type following prolonged crying. During tears, individuals tend to tense the muscles in their face, jaw, neck, and the back of their head.
Symptoms of tension headaches include pain on both sides of the head, discomfort in the neck or face, a constricting sensation around the head, and sensitivity in the affected areas that may worsen with pressure.
2. Exhaustion
Excessive crying can lead to fatigue, which is why many individuals feel the urge to sleep after an intense emotional release.
Crying often slows down breathing and increases heart rate. Following an emotional outburst, this results in reduced oxygen delivery to the brain, leaving you feeling weary and dizzy.
3. Puffy Eyes
Swelling around the eyes after crying occurs due to the dilation of blood vessels in and near the eye area.
If you cry frequently, the blood vessels surrounding your eyes will dilate to increase blood circulation in that area, resulting in puffy, red eyes.
4. Migraines
Migraines can lead to moderate to intense pain that may be felt across the head and face, typically affecting one side, and can manifest anywhere on the face, head, and neck.
Studies indicate that crying might trigger the autonomic nervous system, which could be connected to migraine episodes due to improper functioning of the sympathetic nervous system.
5. Sinus Headaches
A runny nose occurs as tears mix with mucus and flow into the sinuses.
This buildup of mucus and tears can create sinus pressure, leading to headaches.
Those experiencing a sinus headache may feel tenderness and pain when touched and may also suffer from pressure and discomfort across the forehead, cheeks, or around the eyes.